YOU Will Keep Him In Perfect Peace, Whose Mind Is Stayed On YOU"

What a compassionate, 
gracious arrangement!
(Susannah Spurgeon, "Words of Cheer and Comfort 
for Sick and Sorrowful Souls!" 1898)

"My times are in YOUR hand!" 
Psalm 31:15 

Why then, need I worry or tremble? 
That great, loving, powerful hand keeps 
all the events of my life sealed and 
secure within its almighty clasp! 

And only HE, my MAKER and my 
MASTER, can permit them to be 
revealed to me as HIS will for me. 
What a compassionate, 
gracious arrangement! 

How eminently fitted to fulfill that 
sweet promise of HPS Word, 

"YOU will keep him in perfect peace, 
whose mind is stayed on YOU, 
because he trusts in YOU!" 
(Isaiah 26:3)

If we fully believed this, we would 
be absolutely devoid of the worry 
which corrodes and chafes the daily 
life of so many professing Christians.

"My times." Not one or two important 
epochs of my history only--
but everything that concerns me:
  joys that I had not expected,
  sorrows that must have crushed me, 
if they could have been anticipated, 
  sufferings which might have terrified me 
by their grimness, had I looked upon them,
  surprises which infinite love had 
prepared for me,
  services of which I could not have 
imagined myself capable--
 all these lay in that mighty hand--
as the purposes of GOD'S eternal will for me. 

But, as they have developed 
gradually and silently--
how great has been the love 
which appeared enwrapping 
and enfolding each one! 

Has not the grief been measured--
while the gladness has far more abounded? 
Have not the comforts and consolations--
exceeded the crosses and afflictions? 
Have not all things been so arranged, 
and ordered, and undertaken, 
and worked out on our behalf--
that we can but marvel at 
the goodness and wisdom 
of GOD, in meting out from that 
dear hand of HIS, all the "times" 
that have passed over us?

You agree with me in all this, 
do you not, dear reader? 
Then, I beg you, apply it 
to your present circumstances, 
however dark or difficult they may be. 

They have come directly from your 
FATHER'S hand to you, and they 
are HIS dear will for you!

   ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

GraceGems has published John Newton's short article,
 "The Sun Going Down While Yet Day".